A devious carer who stole more than £12,000 from a vulnerable couple has been ordered to pay back just £1.

Over a four-month period last year, Gemma Day and an accomplice raided the funds of Sittingbourne residents Ann and Dennis Baldock – pocketing £12,170 between them.

After avoiding an immediate jail sentence, the 30-year-old returned to Maidstone Crown Court on Friday for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing having admitted fraud by abuse of position last September.

She was ordered to pay back £1 in seven days and was also given a compensation order of £149 which is to be paid back at £10 a week over 15 weeks.

Prosecutor Ali Dewji told the original hearing how Day, of Victoria Street, Sheerness had worked for a company called Welcome Home.

She was employed to care for Mrs Baldock and bed-bound Dennis, who suffered from dementia and were vulnerable to confusion, he added.

Mrs Baldock's brother noticed some unusual activity in the couple's joint bank account where there was a regular withdrawal of £250 which she knew nothing about.

Mr Dewji said checks discovered £12,170 had been taken – and when police checked CCTV footage at the bank they spotted Day taking the money.

Day had faced a jail sentence of anything up to three years after admitting the charge.

But she was allowed to keep her freedom because she cares for three of her four children and could lose her home if jailed.

Instead, the judge suspended a 12-month jail term for two years and ordered her to do 200 hours of unpaid community work.

Sentencing, recorder Clive Broe told her: "You were employed to care for an elderly couple but you used that opportunity to use their bank cards to make numerous withdrawals.

"This was shameful abuse...you were taking advantage of vulnerable people."

When questioned, she revealed she visited the couple even when she wasn't scheduled to work, just to steal more money.

David Patience, defending at the original hearing, said Day admitted taking £6,000 and the rest she claimed was pilfered by another employee, who has not faced charges.

He said: "She is full of deep regret and remorse for her actions. She takes full responsibility for her part and understands the devastating effects it has had on the couple.

"To say her coming in front of a court has devastated her life is something of a gross understatement," he added.

The barrister said her 12-year relationship with her children's father came to an end two years ago and she went off the rails.

"She began socialising with people who were younger and began to drink and take drugs and was not in a good way. She has now stopped."

Mr Patience added that she began taking small amounts but "it just snowballed" and now she will no longer be able to work in care – "a job she loved".